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Will road be ready for new store?
Developer takes out bond as assurance work will be done when 2nd Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market opens
Hinesville sign

Polestar Exchange Georgia, the developer for the under-construction Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market on Hinesville’s eastern edge, has requested that the city enter into a development agreement with the company.

The developer has a contract to turn over the new store to Wal-Mart prior to completing the extension of Gen. Stewart Way, according to Jeff Ricketson, the executive director of the Liberty Consolidated Planning Commission.

In the development agreement, Polestar wants the city to accept the final plat now and, in exchange, Polestar will give the city a performance bond worth the entire construction cost of the road project — about $1.35 million — as assurance that the road will be completed within
21 days of the store opening.

Usually, LCPC would inspect the road prior to approving the final plat, but the construction of the road is expected to take longer than the construction of the store.

The developer needs to record the final plat in order for Wal-Mart to occupy the store. Once the road is completed, the developer will turn it over to the city.

During its May 7 meeting, Hinesville City Council asked the developer to extend the road past the first entrance to the store’s parking lot to the back of the property so that the area would not be landlocked and to allow for future nearby development.

If the developer doesn’t finish the road within 31 days — 21 days plus an additional 10-day notice period — after the store is occupied, the city can take the bond money and use it to complete the road on its own.

Customers will have to use the current access road until the Gen. Stewart Way extension is completed.

Mayor Jim Thomas asked Police Chief George Stagmeier during Thursday’s council meeting about possible traffic issues if the road isn’t completed by the opening. Stagmeier said he wasn’t really sure, but didn’t expect there to be a huge problem in that scenario.

The city agreed to enter into the development agreement, and the bond will not be released back to the developer until the road project is finished.

Ricketson said after the council meeting that after talking with the developer, the developer feels that the road will be done in time for the store to open.

Other business

Thomas and council presented awards to four community members for their work on the Tied to Success event Aug. 29. Kenneth Howard, Daisy Jones, Matt Ross and Randy Lopez were all given letters and plaques describing their participation and leadership.
A left-turn lane on Kacey Drive was discussed during the meeting. During the evening rush hour, vehicles can be stacked eight-deep trying to turn left or right. The project will wait until funding could be found.
The Hinesville Military Affairs Committee requested an alcohol license to sell beer and wine for the Veterans Salute event Nov. 7, and council approved it.

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